Funding a Revocable Living Trust

What is “funding” your revocable living trust?
Funding your trust is the process of transferring your assets from you to your trust. To do this you change the title of your assets to the name of your trust.

How difficult is the funding process?
Make a list of your assets, their values and locations, then start with the most valuable ones and work your way down. Remember why you are doing this, and look forward to the peace of mind you’ll have when the funding of your trust is complete.

How do you know your assets are properly titled in your trust?
The account statement, stock certificate, title or deed will make some reference to the trust or to you as trustee.

Who will control the assets in your trust?
The trustee will control the assets in your trust, whether that trustee is you or if you became unable to be the trustee then it will be who you name as successor trustee.

Why is funding your trust so important?
Your trust can only control the assets you put into it. If your goal in having a trust is to avoid probate at death and court intervention at incapacity, then you must fund your trust while you are able to do so.